There were employers - over 100 of them - staffing the Monmouth County Job Fair tables at the Brookdale Community College Event and Recreation Center Friday morning, but few of them were offering the kind of job that most attendees were looking for.

"There's a lot of jobs, however, the jobs are a lot of blue collar work, not much white collar, professional or adminstrative stuff is around," job-seeker Christine Bonnacarsi said. "Many places only pay around $10 an hour."

Before losing her job two years ago, Bonnacarsi worked as a career advisor. Now, her decades of experience work against her as she tries to find a new position.

"It is very hard if you are well educated and you've worked for 20 years," she said. "Once they see your experience, they cross you off the list."

"It's just the general economic climate - we've lost Fort Monmouth, Lucent Technologies is broken up, our major employers are all gone," Gross said. "Construction after the impact of Hurricane Sandy is a bright spot, but otherwise, it's really bad unfortunately."

Gross said job fairs are not a good way to find employment, but can be good networking tools for job-seekers eager to get their foot in the door - which is exactly what Neptune Township resident Jeremiah Davis was hoping to do.

"There are some good opportunities here, but they're mostly in different industries than I am looking for," Davis said. "I'm looking for a job in accounting."

Davis, discouraged by the lack of jobs in the area, said he is considering a move.

"Job opportunities are forcing me to relocate north or out of state," he said. "I feel like I am kind of being overlooked for entry level jobs because they are being filled by more experienced people coming back to the workforce."

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Not everyone was down on their luck. Dirce Panachyda, looking for work as a life skills counselor or medical interpreter, was courting several potential employers.

"In Brazil, I worked as a journalist, but when I came here I changed careers for better opportunities," she said. "There are jobs out there, but it's tough - many of them are non-profit organizations that can't afford to pay very well."

Dave Kurinsky, of Toms River, was having luck looking for a job in law enforcement.

"It sounds very promising," he said. "I think the job climate is getting better, but it has a long way to go - we still have a lot of economic problems."